The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-14
GROWING MORE PERPLEXING
The Latest Phases of the National League
Baseball Situation.
Kansas City Claims the st. Louis Maroons,
but the League officers Say that There
Has Been No Transfer.

While 1t is settled that the st. Louis Maroons
have been sold, there seems to be some doubt
now as to who the purchasers ere. and, al
together, the base ball situation is even moro
perplexiDg than it has been. Ben Fine, the st.
Louis man who negotiated the sale of the fran
chse, in an interview with reporter of the ST.
Louis Globe Democrat, after stating that the
conclusion had been reached that it would be
impossible to make the club at St. Louis profit
able this year, and that it wonld be advisable to
sell, says II went Kansas City and made
proposition to Mr. Menges ard his associates for
the sale of the club and its players. He &C
copied the proposition. The next thing to be
done was to lay the matter before the
League committee and get their consent to
of A. G. Spalding, of Chicago, John B. Day, of
New York, and President Young. OF Washing
ton. Mr.. Young, being the chairman of the COM
rnittee of course would have been the proper
person to have seen. but MIR. Spaulding being the
nearest member of the committee, the facts In
the case were related to him. Mr. Menges &C
companied me to Chicago We saw Spaulding
and explained to him the nature of our business.
He seemed to think we'll of the matter, and
thought that it was the only way the League
could get rid Of its extra member. He prom
scd to call meeting of the committee at
once to consider the transfer. He ex-
pressed only his personal opinion OF the
affair and refused to state to what action the
other members of the committee would take.
He was told in particular that every of the
aIaroons' nlavers must go with the franchise
that if the Kansas City club bought the fran
chise. it should receive Denny, Glasscock.
Myers Bowie and Healey, as well the less
important members of the team. Spaudng did
not say one word about securing Glasscock for
the ChIcasos, nor was any mention made OF CIV
ing Denny to the New Works The Kansas
City De opie don't want franchise They have
got It's the players they are after. With
| out Denny Glasscock they wouldn't give
| 81 600 for the franchise and the rest OF the
| players"
SHOULD the League committee refuse to per-
NIT the deal to be made, what will be done?'
Then will sell just the same. They can
! not prevent the owners of the Maroons franchise
| from doing what they want with 1t. We only
brought the matter to their notice because we
wanted the League to know that the Maroons
we're going out and that the Kansas Citys were
going TO remain in"
| will you mention the price paid for the
| franchisel'
II cannot tell you that. You can imagine,
| however. that it was a pretty big amount, as
Stromberg has been offered $4,000 for four
| players"
"Whas about Indianapolisf
| "1ndisnapois will not be in the League this
| season: you depend that The people
who talked about forming club there have not
got the money nor the pluck to run a baseball
team. 1t is true that the Maroons offered to
sell out to the Indianapolis people, but they
| could not raise sufficient amount to make the
purchase. Indianapolis IS not a paying base
! ball city. never was It won't even support
| an amateur nine.
Il have told you all know about the
matter" Mr.. Fine went on. Il expect to hear
| the decision of the committee before this time
| next week. Whether it's decision is against us
or not. the Maroons with Denny and Giasscock
| will go to Kansas City and play With the Cow
| boys this season.
| A telegram from Washington states that when
| President Young asked about the reported
sale of the Maroons, ne replied There will be
all sorts of specnlations from this time forward
until the League meeting, the 1th of March,
when the status of the West will be settled in
the League. So far any deal with ST. Louis
Is concerned, the matter is preposterous on its
face. Nothing of the sort would be attempted.
nor could it be accomplished without the unan-
imous sanction of the League committee to sat
tie such matters. Messrs. Spaulding.
Day and myself the members Of
that committee. and nothing of the
kind has ever been proposed to us.
would have to issue call for meeting and l
am that Il would have been consulted by my
colleagues if they considering such a
proposition. When come together at New
York, representatives Of the clubs interested will
naturally be invited to appear before US and sub
nit whatever they have to offer, and it will then
| be determined what to do. and not until then.
OF course, will DO whatever seems best for the
advancement of the League. But up to date.
nothing whatever that could be construed to be
an offer for franchise has been submitted to
u.s. and all the stories about the committee sell
ing ont st. Louis for Sl3, 900, agreeing TO the
transfer of certain players, have no tangible
foundation. My mail for tho past few days has
contained numerous inquiries on these subjects,
and my invariahle reply has been that knew
| nothing concerning them
| III. MSugeS.
City Club claims positively that he has oough,
, the ST. Louis club and its franchise tele
, gram from Kansas City states that. when ques
toned about the matter, he said: kansas City
has purchased the franchise of the Maroon
Club, and it will be transferred TO in few
days The deal is consummated and all that we
are waiting for is the sanction of the specia
committee. Messrs. Spaulding. Young and Day
President Stromberg and the Kansas City di
rectors had closed the deal when ] left for Chi
cago night before last. aud the object of my vis
there was to get the opinion of this special com
,nittee in regard to the move. AS have be
: fore stated, the president of the Maroons car
sell the privilege to any one he wishes, bu
the movement must be Endorsed by the commit
tee. When met Messrs Spaulding and Youn!
in Chicago they were committa as Mr.
g | Day could not be heard from. He had left New
York few days since. and we could not Get in
formation as to his whereabouts. Mr.. Spauld
/ ing will not allow personal feelings to in fiuenc
n him in this matter, but know that he will
= favor Kansas City. Mr.. Young. of course, il
Indifferent to what is done, and has no inter
n est in any special club. Mr. Day is favorabl,
0 disposed towards Kansas City, as he has nj
n reason to feel otherwise. Now you see how tn
matter stands"
. ..How about Indianapolis" was asked.
During all this controversy. I have no
J. heard directly from Indianapolis that they wer
!. anxious to purchase the Maroon franchise. Mr.
!" Spauldine went to Indianapolis on private bust
ness, and some enterprising reporter started TIL
d report that the indianapolis Club would ence
Ao!cn nhac0 tb1 f,1,
chise. Now should Indianapolis make an appli
> cation for the Maroons to the special comntte
it I do not think that they would consider the ma!
ter at all, this would be almost tn